Colleagues support chastised professor (LA Times, Oct 25, 2015)

Cal State Fullerton staffers call censure over textbook unfair.

By Carla Rivera

     Nearly 70 Cal State Fullerton faculty members signed a letter Friday supporting the efforts of a math professor who is appealing a reprimand for failing to use an assigned textbook in an advanced algebra class.

     The letter was presented to a three-member faculty committee considering a grievance filed by associate professor Alain Bourget, who in spring 2014 dropped the long-used textbook co-written by the department’s chairman and vice chairman. Bourget opted instead to use new — and cheaper — course materials he thought were more relevant.

     The letter was presented to a three-member faculty committee considering a grievance filed by associate professor Alain Bourget, who in spring 2014 dropped the long-used textbook co-written by the department’s chairman and vice chairman. Bourget opted instead to use new — and cheaper — course materials he thought were more relevant.

     Bourget received a written reprimand for failing to use the assigned book and not following department procedures. He has argued that there was no clear policy preventing him from using a different book.

     The case has sparked a national debate over academic freedom and the circumstances under which professors should assign their own books to students.

After the hearing, Bourget said he was disappointed that his case has caused so much dissension.

      “A lot of people are taking it personally and feel like I’m attacking the university,” he said.

     The hearing panel has 14 days to consider its findings and make a recommendation to university President Mildred Garcia on whether to revoke the reprimand.

     The faculty letter presented to the panel said that many other departments do not require a single textbook for all course sections and others have an explicit process for textbook selection. “But the vast, vast majority of departments resolve these questions amicably and according to well-documented processes,” it said.

      “There is a time and place for a censure action. That time is not when in good faith an expert in the field seeks to improve the quality of the curricula and the policy is unclear.”

     Campus officials would not directly comment on the hearing. But in an email, David Bowman, interim dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, defended the math department’s procedures.

      “In the case of courses with multiple class sections, textbook selection may be shared across multiple instructors,” said Bowman, who wrote the letter of reprimand. “Departments may elect to use a single textbook in such instances, particularly in courses where the subject matter is closely tied to the curriculum in subsequent coursework.”

SEE ALSO Gag Order Placed on Cal State Fullerton Faculty After Professor Blasts Textbook Price (Matt Coker)

SOCCCD's "$200K Club" (according to Transparent California, 2014)

Undisputed champ

     As you know, Transparent California (run by the California Policy Center, a right-wing think tank) provides salary data regarding state employees, including community college employees. I'm going to assume that these data are accurate. (Are they?)
     The site for “All … salaries for South Orange Community College District” employees, 2014, is here:

     2014 SOCCCD employee salaries

     At this site, individual salaries are presented in order, starting with the highest (the Chancellor @ $401,949.52) and ending with the lowest (student aids, et al.).
     By my count, sixty-seven SOCCCD employees are in the “200 Club”—i.e., those making $200K or more. (That some includes benefits, which are very significant.)
     42 of the 67 are administrators. No surprise there.
     25 of the 67 are instructors. Golly.
     According to the district’s Fast Facts, the SOCCCD has 374 full-time faculty. The number has likely increased since that was printed. Let's round it up to 400. 25 divided into 400 is .0625. That is, these 25 faculty represent about 6 percent of full-time faculty.
     So let's not overreact. The Twenty-Five are a surprising group, that's for sure; but they're only six percent.

Here are the 25 instructors [names not included]:

$302K/$229K

CIS [Business] Instructor - $253,535.19 (IVC)
CIM [Business] Instructor/Lab Instructor - $235,448.98 (Saddleback)
Spanish Instructor - $231,001.91 (Saddleback)
Counselor - $228,642.68 (IVC)
CIS [Business] Instructor - $227,803.50 (IVC)
Business Instructor - $220,176.37 (Saddleback)
Real Estate [Business] Instructor - $219,958.30 (Saddleback)
Anthropology Instructor - $219,672.08 (IVC)
Spanish Instructor - $219,598.81 (Saddleback)
English Composition Instructor* - $216,740.37 (Saddleback)
Philosophy Instructor* - $216,692.37 (Saddleback)
Counselor - $213,588.68 (Saddleback)
Mathematics Instructor - $210,145.28 (Saddleback)
Psychology Instructor - $208,664.29 (Saddleback)
Kines. Inst./Head Football Ch/Golf Ch - $208,655.05 (Saddleback)

$231k

Nursing Instructor (Fund/Med-Surg) - $206,973.29 (Saddleback)
Economics Instructor** - $206,481.23 (Saddleback)
Kinesiology Instructor - $205,941.00 (Saddleback)
Physics/Astronomy Instructor - $205,596.10 (Saddleback)
CIM [Business] Instructor - $205,309.60 (Saddleback)
Biology Instructor - $204,239.00 (IVC)
Kines. Inst./Asst Football Ch/Golf Ch - $201,640.09 (Saddleback)
Counselor - $201,317.94 (IVC)
Counselor (Generalist) - $201,018.84 (IVC)
English Composition Instructor - $200,131.47 (Saddleback)

Can I have your autograph?

PATTERNS:
   Six Business instructors
   Four Counselors (three at IVC)
   Three Kinesiology instructors (all at Saddleback)
   Two Spanish instructors (both at Saddleback)
   Two English Composition instructors (both at Saddleback)
   One Gensler**
   The undisputed faculty salary champ is a business instructor at IVC. Nevertheless, only seven of The Twenty-five are at IVC; eighteen are at Saddleback College.

*Union Old Guardsters
**Former Dean of Humanities and Languages, IVC

Glenn's 30th Anniversary event — the FORUM

Mostly comments from the previous post: 

Glenn's 30 year anniversary event—and, natch, original faculty and staff are nowhere to be found

UNAPPRECIATED CLASSIFIED:

Anonymous said...

   And of course the least recognized and appreciated employees on campus—the classified staff. There are many who were here at the beginning and should have been invited. Unfortunately, our administrators have little regard for classified employees and show no loyalty and little support for all their efforts on behalf of the campus and the students.

   — 6:02 PM, October 22, 2015 

RICH COUNSELOR:

Anonymous said...

   Wow! Robert makes more than the Governor of the State of California! Nice work if you can get it!

   — 10:58 PM, October 22, 2015 

ANOTHER PARTY?

Anonymous said...

   I heard there is going to be another party for the entire college and at that one some of the founding staff, faculty and administrators will be present. Some noted alumni have also been asked. There will be representatives from all sectors of the college - classified, admin and the various schools. It will be a late afternoon-early evening event which will be better for most of us to attend. This one will also be in Live Oaks Terrace which will accommodate more and so our current students will be more likely to drop in and learn more about their college. There will be music. There will be food. It will be inclusive and celebratory. It will demonstrate that the administration is truly proud of all of us and what we have done through the years.

   — 7:05 AM, October 23, 2015 

NEGATIVE REVIEW:

Anonymous said...

   You had close to two hundred rsvps but hold the event in a room that can hold 50 people.

   No original faculty speeches. Tchaikovsky spoke—he has been at IVC for one year?

   No original staff speeches.

   No orignality.

   Oaks must have organized this snoozefest.

   Boring, boring, boring.

   I hope I win the tequilla so that I can kill all my brain cells associated with this lame event.

   — 7:07 AM, October 23, 2015 

Anonymous said...

   [Re 7:05:] Oh great, after they screw up they are going to have "another" party for the entire college and be inclusive. Another typical "OOOPS" by an incompetent administration.

   — 7:18 AM, October 23, 2015 

THE HOI POLLOI:

Anonymous said...

   Now that the party with the VIP's is over they will host an event for the lower class faculty and staff. Can't have those low-life's hob-nobbing with the VIP's!

   — 7:22 AM, October 23, 2015 

Anonymous said...

   I think 7:05 was making that all up. I don't think there will be another party. Right, 7:05?

   — 7:31 AM, October 23, 2015 

Anonymous said...

   Is that really Melendez's salary? How can that be? [See Transparent California]

   — 7:32 AM, October 23, 2015 

CHUMP CHANGE:

Anonymous said...

   His "other pay" is $68,000? That's what I make for my regular pay! Where is the oversight on this?

   — 7:34 AM, October 23, 2015 

A-OK:

Anonymous said...

   All the supplemental pay is approved by dean, VP, prez and board — though perhaps it isn't ever added up quite like it is here. That number is sort of hard to defend. Can't wait until the next piece on inflated salaries.

   — 7:57 AM, October 23, 2015 

Melendez: big money

NOT IN MIXED COMPANY!

Anonymous said...

   The whole event was a fucking joke! What a clusterfuck!

   — 8:48 AM, October 23, 2015 

Anonymous said...

   Watch your language! It does nothing to further discussion.

   — 9:28 AM, October 23, 2015 

Anonymous said...

   [Re 7:31:] Yes. I made up the party on Live Oaks Terrace. It was wishful thinking.

   — 9:49 AM, October 23, 2015 

Anonymous said...

   [To 9:28:] Maybe not Grandma, but it clearly evokes disgust and frustration for the continued behavior of the assholes in A100!

   — 11:07 AM, October 23, 2015 

unabauer@aol.com said...

   [Re 11:07:] I agree with Grannie.

   — 11:57 AM, October 23, 2015 

THAT'S INCREDIBLE!

Anonymous said...

   How do counselors tap that kind of salary? Its contractual, folks. Its two to two and a half months of summer counseling forty hour weeks, and that is straight overtime. Many of you do a class or two or three in the summer. Its important that you add up the hours that two or two and a half months can provide. Beyond their counseling schedules during the regular term, they can wrap as much overtime as possible into their schedules.
   While it is contractual, it seems [to be an] abuse of the intent of the funds for student services. While it is contractual, why is okay to put funds in that direction while students wait in long lines for just a few classified employees to serve them? While it is contractual, why is it okay for students to lack tutorial funding as the year ends simply because they dedicated a great deal of funds to counseling overtime? While it is contractual, its an area we faculty (teaching and non teaching) need to review if we are to carry any credibility as we serve and teach our students.

   — 12:20 PM, October 23, 2015 

Anonymous said...

   Robert Urell

   CIS [Business] Instructor

   Regular pay: $126,931.09

   Overtime pay: $0.00

   Other pay: $71,049.10

   Total pay: $197,980.19

   Total benefits: $55,555.00

   Total pay & benefits: $253,535.19

   — 1:10 PM, October 23, 2015 

Anonymous said...

   I was curious and looked other salaries up on the Transparent California site Roy provided. It does not seem like most other counselors are making that kind of money. I do not know if the counselors read this blog or not. But, do they know that their chair is making so much? It would be helpful to know if others are offered overtime and do not want it or if its is only being monopolized by a few.

   — 1:11 PM, October 23, 2015 

SEE Transparent California for a public record of SOCCCD salaries

Anonymous said...

   I have worked as an academic chair through the years and I assure you that that kind of money is NOT being made because Robert is chair. This is all due to other stipends and special projects—people sign up for work, get paid big bucks for it and there is little accountability and oversight. The college spends the money given so they look good. That's all they care about. Looking good.

   Like the previous poster said, everyone above him signs off on this. It's a scam.

   — 1:38 PM, October 23, 2015 

Anonymous said...

   Damn. Maybe those folks with the big stipends could help out Polly Sundeen get a van for her son.
   (Take some time and tool around that Transparent California site — it's a real hoot! I remember being told by my dean that I could NOT take on any extra work, otherwise my contractual duties might suffer. HA HA HA! The dean was right BTW. But HA HA HA. They're laughing all the way to the bank — and squealing out of the parking lots early in their very fine rides.)

   — 1:43 PM, October 23, 2015 

Anonymous said...

   Don't you know it is unseemly to discuss money?

   — 1:50 PM, October 23, 2015 

THE POOR CLASSIFIED:

Anonymous said...

   Meanwhile, the poor classified who are trying to deal with the abomination called WORKDAY catch hell if they are struggling to get their work done in 8 hours and require overtime. Supposedly, the campus rule from the administration is No Overtime (another "rule" from the administration is that you MUST take a one-hour lunch period and cannot take 1/2 an hour. Classified staff don't have the opportunity for stipends and certainly earn no extra money for doing other projects or committee work).

   Where is that equity?

   — 2:33 PM, October 23, 2015 

Glenn's 30 year anniversary event—and, natch, original faculty and staff are nowhere to be found

     The Irvine Valley College campus—initially known as Saddleback College, North Campus—opened in 1979. It became an independent college—IVC—in 1985. Thirty years ago.

     So, today, we received an email that shouted

TODAY MARKS THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGE.

TO CELEBRATE THE OCCASION, STOP BY THE A 100 LOBBY BEFORE NOON AND ENJOY AN ANNIVERSARY CUPCAKE 

     Cupcake?

     This “anniversary” business caught me by surprise. Would there be some kind of ceremony? Or is this cupcake thing the whole shebang?

     I immediately searched for something about “anniversaries” in my college email. Sure enough, back on the 19^th, we received an invitation:

   You’re invited to attend the Irvine Valley College Community Outreach Mixer as we celebrate 30 years of student success, business and community partnerships. [Note the emphasis on business and community partnerships.]



Cupcakes gallore

   In just over three decades, Irvine Valley College has grown from a small satellite campus to a standout among California’s 113 community colleges. Today, IVC is now [sic] ranked #1 in Orange County and #2 in the state among all California community colleges for its transfer rates.

   Enrollment has jumped from 6,000 students in the fall of 1985 when IVC officially opened its doors to 15,000 students today.

   On October 22, IVC will officially celebrate the 30th anniversary of the college, and on this date we would like to pay tribute to IVC’s past, present and future.

   To honor the success of our students, the value IVC faculty and staff bring to our community, and to celebrate everything that makes IVC such a special learning institution, we invite you to attend our Community Outreach Mixer celebrating 30 years of business and community partnerships.

     Evidently, we were supposed to RSVP.

     I walked over to A100 and found that its absurd interior was prepped for the big event at 4:30.
     I grabbed a flier with the event’s program.

     It’s all very odd. The event offers the usual administrators: VP Fontanilla, Prez Roquemore, VP Justice. Judging by the setup out at the parking lot, all of the trustees are invited, too. The Board Prez, TJ Prendergast, will offer some remarks.

     Where are the original faculty from back in 1985 (or before)? How come they're not front and center?

     There will be five “presenters,” and they're faculty. Two hail from IVC’s School of Business.

     Business? WTF? Maybe they'll talk about what it's like to live through a scandal? Or maybe they'll yammer about college/business "partnerships." Glenn loves that shit.

     Another “presenter” is from the School of Math, Computer Science, and Technologies. Yet another is the Ac. Senate President. She’s from Life Sciences.
     The last presenter is from counseling.
     Yeah, counseling. Why him?
     Mr. Melendez. He's a guy known for his mastery of the fine art of concocting a massive salary. (Check it out: $201,018.84)

     Where are the faculty of Humanities and Languages at this shindig? Nowhere. Do Glenn and his people have any idea who built this college and made it shine? (Hint: they didn't have huge salaries. They weren't involved in fraudulescence.)

     As always, Glenn and Co. are sans clue. Sans clue and avec the usual suspects.
     And where are the original movers and shakers of 1985?
     Evidently, they weren't invited.

     P.S.: I attended about an hour of this thing, starting at 4:30. The space really filled up—the venue was plainly too small. As we "mixed," I spoke with a reporter, a photographer, and some faculty and staff. I won't report what the latter said, for obvious reasons.

     Glenn seemed to be waiting for his VIPs to show up. Obviously, some of 'em were no-shows. He finally got the event rolling just after 5:00, with many of the reserved seats still empty. Then: a parade of elected officials, including Glenn's "boss's bosses," the trustees. (Three showed up.) Prendergast spoke, as did Assemblyman Harper and some gal from the City.

     It was ridiculous. Glenn went through his usual statistics. At one point, the whole gathering sang "Happy Birthday" to TJ Prendergast. Eyes rolled.

     Shoulda left then. It only got worse. You can just imagine.

See Alex Chan’s fluffy Daily Pilot coverage: IVC has seen growth and change in its 30 years

SEE ALSO:

• IVC: the birth of a college with a daffy name
• Pictures of IVC's past
• Pics of Friday's 25 year wingding at IVC

October 1985

Helping One of Our Own

Polly Sundeen and Cole

Polly Sundeen has been a vital part of the community that makes up Irvine Valley College since it really was a little college in the orange groves, as Rebel Girl likes to say. Polly has worked here for over 25 years, since 1988, predating most of us on campus, including the president himself and the rebellious one as well. Currently a Senior Administrative Assistant, Polly has also served in leadership roles on the Classified Senate and CSEA.  Polly and her family need our help.

As some of us know, Polly's son Cole was diagnosed early on with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

As Polly writes on the family's YouCaring fundraising site:

Cole has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and lost ambulation nearly 5 years ago. Not having an accessible van has limited where he can go and what he can do with us. Each day he misses more of our everyday activities by having to stay home because we aren't able to lift him in and out of our truck to go places. Everything is affected - medical appointments, holidays with family, even his grandmother's funeral. 

Polly, lacking the funds for an accessible van, has had to make do with what she has, a considerable burden on her and her family and a factor which limits teenage Cole's ability to be fully engaged in life.

Transportation has become especially critical since, as of this week, Cole is one of 12 boys nationwide to be selected for a clinical trial at UCLA for an experimental drug. They leave at 4:45 in the morning to get there on time but they are so grateful for the opportunity. As Polly says, "This is the trial I never thought would happen for him and will give him improved quality of life...not a cure but as close as we probably will come in his lifetime."

Polly and Cole, learning to walk

The Sundeen family's campaign to raise funds has been embraced by the faculty, students and staff of  Beckman High School where 16-year-old Cole is a junior - as well as the Tustin Unified School District. That effort has result in raising over $20,000 dollars, a third of the $60,000 goal.

Surely we who have worked alongside Polly and the institution she has served faithfully for over a quarter of a century can, as the the campaign is titled, Help Cole Get There.

To donate to the campaign, follow this link: Help Cole Get There.

Every amount brings them closer to their goal. Rebel Girl knows that this college and this district has the resources to make a difference here.  Let's do it.

Cole, boy at the beach

Let's take them there.

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Malcolm Gladwell on School Shootings

Illustration by Oliver Munday

This morning Rebel Girl came across this via The New Yorker. Malcolm Gladwell has been busy.


Thresholds of Violence: How school shootings catch on
excerpt:

....We misleadingly use the word “copycat” to describe contagious behavior—implying that new participants in an epidemic act in a manner identical to the source of their infection. But rioters are not homogeneous. If a riot evolves as it spreads, starting with the hotheaded rock thrower and ending with the upstanding citizen, then rioters are a profoundly heterogeneous group.

Finally, Granovetter’s model suggests that riots are sometimes more than spontaneous outbursts. If they evolve, it means they have depth and length and a history. Granovetter thought that the threshold hypothesis could be used to describe everything from elections to strikes, and even matters as prosaic as how people decide it’s time to leave a party. He was writing in 1978, long before teen-age boys made a habit of wandering through their high schools with assault rifles. But what if the way to explain the school-shooting epidemic is to go back and use the Granovetterian model—to think of it as a slow-motion, ever-evolving riot, in which each new participant’s action makes sense in reaction to and in combination with those who came before?...

...In the day of Eric Harris, we could try to console ourselves with the thought that there was nothing we could do, that no law or intervention or restrictions on guns could make a difference in the face of someone so evil. But the riot has now engulfed the boys who were once content to play with chemistry sets in the basement. The problem is not that there is an endless supply of deeply disturbed young men who are willing to contemplate horrific acts. It’s worse. It’s that young men no longer need to be deeply disturbed to contemplate horrific acts.

To read the rest -and you should - click here.

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